Did you know WildTale’s Dine Out menu is only $30 this year? When my family and I went there for Dine Out last year it was $40! I was invited to a preview of this year’s menu and I was curious to see how it has changed.
Turns out there are a couple repeating items on the menu, which makes this $30 menu a pretty good deal.
Food
One of the repeating items is the WildTale Seafood Chowder. Well, it’s not entirely the same as last year’s, but the idea is there. The chowder was the most memorable appetizer last year, and this year’s chowder was my favourite appetizer on the menu. It was rich, creamy, flavourful – and the corn and crab fritter was nice and crispy, adding some texture to the soup.
If you look for something lighter in the appetizer, either the Organic Beets & Watercress salad or the Albacore Tuna Carpaccio would make a great option. I love beets, so any beet salad could easily win my heart. These beets were sweet, balanced by the hint of bitterness in watercress. It’s missing some tang and acidity, though – I love me some goat cheese in my beet salad.
The Albacore Tuna Carpaccio was quite refreshing, thanks to the segments of orange and cherry tomatoes. The tuna was sliced paper-thin, which was very impressive. The flavours would really pop with a small sprinkle of sea salt here.
The Herb-Crusted Wild Coho Salmon looked really good. Too bad none of my neighbours ordered it so I didn’t get the chance to try it. The brown butter caper sauce sounds delicious and should make a good pairing with the salmon.
Beef short rib has been on almost every Dine Out menu for the last few years, so I’m not surprised to see it on WildTale’s menu. But this 7-hour Braised Alberta Beef Short Rib is different. Why? Roasted Bone Marrow Jus!!! It was so rich and luscious! The meat was fork tender, good portion size. The celeriac potato puree was smooth and creamy. This was very good interpretation of a “meat & potato” dish.
Last entree is the Four-Cheese Baked Wild Mushroom Gnocchi. This was the richest entree of all. The gnocchi was of good texture, the mushroom added an earthy tone. It was a hearty dish to start, and it got a bit salty after a few more bites.
You’ve got no choice in dessert, but it’s probably OK. The Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse is a repeating item from last year. It’s decadent yet it’s very light and not super rich. The raspberry sauce at the bottom brings freshness and tartness to the dessert. Looking back at photos, it’s only about half the size from last year.
Wine Pairing
I also had the opportunity to taste the wine pairing on the menu. The whole menu was paired with wines from Quails’ Gate. My favourite was the 2015 Chenin Blanc, and I learned that this vintage was also served to numerous visiting Heads of State including President Obama, the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, and the Japanese Royal Family. It was crisp with a rounded, fruity finish. Another wine that I liked was the 2014 Merlot – not super high in tannins, and had a lot of peppery and smoky tobacco note.
Final Thoughts
It’s very rare that a restaurant would lower its Dine Out menu price over time, but I’m glad to see that WildTale is offering theirs for just $30. Makes it a very affordable DOV option in Yaletown. Overall the menu has a good variety of dishes and it’s good value for the money. Based on the menu tasting, I would suggest ordering the WildTale Seafood Chowder + Beef Short Rib.
WildTale Coastal Grill
1079 Mainland Street, Vancouver
604-428-9211
wildtale.ca
Disclosure: The meal was provided to me complimentary of the restaurant. However, the views and opinions expressed in this post are purely my own.
[…] [Dine Out Vancouver 2017] WildTale Coastal Grill Menu Preview #DOVF by Joyce at vanfoodies.com […]
LikeLike